Playhouse Village Association

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Vroman’s presents Alua Arthur discusses Briefly Perfectly Human
2024-04-29 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | All Saints Church, 132 North Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
For her clients and everyone who has been inspired by her humanity, Alua Arthur is a friend at the end of the world. As our country’s leading death doula, she’s spreading a transformative message: thinking about your death–whether imminent or not–will breathe wild, new potential into your life.
Warm, generous, and funny AF, Alua supports and helps manage end-of-life care on many levels. The business matters, medical directives, memorial planning; but also honoring the quiet moments, when monitors are beeping and loved ones have stepped out to get some air–or maybe not shown up at all–and her clients become deeply contemplative and want to talk. Aching, unfinished business often emerges. Alua has been present for thousands of these sacred moments–when regrets, fears, secret joys, hidden affairs, and dim realities are finally said aloud. When this happens, Alua focuses her attention at the pulsing center of her clients’ anguish and creates space for them, and sometimes their loved ones, to find peace.
This has had a profound effect on Alua, who was already no stranger to death’s periphery. Her family fled a murderous coup d’état in Ghana in the 1980s. She has suffered major, debilitating depressions. And her dear friend and brother-in-law died of lymphoma. Advocating for him in his final months is what led Alua to her life’s calling. She knows firsthand the power of bearing witness and telling the truth about life’s painful complexities, because they do not disappear when you look the other way. They wait for you.
Briefly Perfectly Human is a life-changing, soul-gathering debut, by a writer whose empathy, tenderness, and wisdom shimmers on the page. Alua Arthur combines intimate storytelling with a passionate appeal for loving, courageous end-of-life care–what she calls “death embrace.” Hers is a powerful testament to getting in touch with something deeper in our lives, by embracing the fact of our own mortality. “Hold that truth in your mind,” Alua says, “and wondrous things will begin to grow around it.” (Mariner Books)
Tembi Locke is a New York Times bestselling author, TV producer, actor, and screenwriter with a passion for connecting with her audience both on the page and on the screen. In partnership with Hello Sunshine, Tembi served as co-creator and executive producer for the adaptation of her memoir, “From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home,” for Netflix. The series, “From Scratch,” became an instant global hit, spending weeks on Netflix’s Top Ten List in over thirty countries around the world and earning six NAACP Image Award nominations and the prestigious Los Angeles Film Italy award. Her aforementioned memoir was also a Reese’s Book Club pick and an instant bestseller. Tembi and her sister, Attica, are currently under an overall development deal with Universal Television
In addition to her accomplishments as a writer and producer, Tembi is an accomplished actor with over sixty film and television credits. She most recently held a recurring role on Netflix’s hit show, “Never Have I Ever.” Offscreen, she is a nationally recognized speaker, delivering keynotes on resilience, loss, creativity and the power of storytelling. Her TEDx talk has been viewed by individuals and nonprofits around the world. She launched her podcast, “Lifted,” which features dynamic women sharing their stories of what and who have lifted their lives. Through her work Tembi aims to inspire people to embrace resilience, love, and the power of community.
This ticketed event will take place in the Forum at All Saints Church located at 132 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena.
Tickets include one copy of Briefly Perfectly Human which will be handed out at check-in.
A book signing will follow the discussion.

Vroman's Bookstore:
2024-04-16 19:00
From the bestselling author of Dusk, Night, Dawn and Help, Thanks, Wow, a joyful celebration of love.
“Love is our only hope,” Anne Lamott writes in this perceptive new book. “It is not always the easiest choice, but it is always the right one, the noble path, the way home to safety, no matter how bleak the future looks.”
In Somehow: Thoughts on Love, Lamott explores the transformative power that love has in our lives: how it surprises us, forces us to confront uncomfortable truths, reminds us of our humanity, and guides us forward. “Love just won’t be pinned down,” she says. “It is in our very atmosphere” and lies at the heart of who we are. We are, Lamott says, creatures of love.
In each chapter of Somehow, Lamott refracts all the colors of the spectrum. She explores the unexpected love for a partner later in life. The bruised (and bruising) love for a child who disappoints, even frightens. The sustaining love among a group of sinners, for a community in transition, in the wider world. The lessons she underscores are that love enlightens as it educates, comforts as it energizes, sustains as it surprises.
Somehow is Anne Lamott’s twentieth book, and in it she draws from her own life and experience to delineate the intimate and elemental ways that love buttresses us in the face of despair as it galvanizes us to believe that tomorrow will be better than today. Full of the compassion and humanity that have made Lamott beloved by millions of readers, Somehow is classic Anne Lamott: funny, warm, and wise. (Riverhead Books)
This ticketed event will take place in the Sanctuary at All Saints Church located at 132 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena.
Tickets include one copy of Somehow which will be handed out at check-in.
A book signing will follow the discussion.

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Vroman’s presents Valerie Bertinelli discussing Indulge
2024-04-15 19:00
Beloved actress and New York Times bestselling author Valerie Bertinelli returns with her most indulgent cookbook yet; a collection of 100 recipes to nourish the body and the soul.
in·dulge: to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of.
When Valerie Bertinelli turned 60, she said “Enough already!” and ended her battle with the scale for good. She stopped counting calories. She stopped thinking of certain foods as good or bad. She quit saying no and began saying yes, finally learning how to enjoy the pure pleasure of being alive – starting in the kitchen.
In short, she learned how to indulge.
With this gorgeous cookbook, Valerie shares her secrets for indulging so you can start living your best, most fulfilling life too. Whether it’s splurging on fresh produce at the farmer’s market, cooking an extravagant steak dinner for one, or serving an ice cream sundae bar at a dinner party, this book is a reminder that indulging can take many shapes and forms.
You’ll discover the delicious recipes she cooks for her friends and family, including favorites like Garlic Confit BLT, Oven “Fried” Okra, Sausage and Olive Cheese Bites, Spaghetti al Limone, Salmon Burgers With Quick-Pickled Vegetables, Filet Mignon with Béarnaise Sauce and Chocolate Peanut Butter Dates, and more.
Written in Valerie’s warmhearted and intimate style—including heartfelt essays about how to savor moments big and small—this cookbook is a permission slip to enjoy food, and more importantly, enjoy life.
This ticketed event will take place at All Saints Church located at 132 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena.
Tickets include one hardcover copy of Indulge which will be handed out at check-in. A book signing will follow the talk.

Vroman's Bookstore: Kiley Reid discussing Come and Get It
2024-02-15 19:00
rom the celebrated New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age comes a fresh and provocative story about a residential assistant and her messy entanglement with a professor and three unruly students.
It’s 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, wants to graduate, get a job, and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers Millie an easy yet unusual opportunity, she jumps at the chance. But Millie’s starry-eyed hustle becomes jeopardized by odd new friends, vengeful dorm pranks, and illicit intrigue.
A fresh and intimate portrait of desire, consumption, and reckless abandon, Come and Get It is a tension-filled story about money, indiscretion, and bad behavior–and the highly anticipated new novel by acclaimed and award-winning author Kiley Reid. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
This ticketed event will take place at All Saints Church located at 132 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena.
Tickets include one copy of Come and Get It which will be handed out at check-in.
A book signing will follow the discussion.

Vroman's: Your Thrive Year: Transformative Conversations for a New 365
2024-01-13 13:00 - 16:00
Vroman’s presents an afternoon of panel discussions that will help guide you to your own Thrive Year.
This event will be led by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson, renowned doula and author of the forthcoming title, On Thriving. Sellerz-Jackson will be joined by panelists Dr. Mariel Buqué and Arielle Estoria, discussing topics near to all their hearts such as healing from trauma and practices for thriving in our mental health, self-care, relationships, and beyond. More panelists to be announced.
ABOUT OUR PANELISTS:
*Brandi Sellerz-Jackson is a storyteller, birth and postpartum doula, and the creator of Not So Private Parts. Initially created as a women’s lifestyle blog, Not So Private Parts has evolved into a resource removing the shame and stigma surrounding women’s issues. Sellerz-Jackson is the co-founder of Moms in Color, a Black mom collective centered around celebrating diversity in the motherhood space. She is also the senior manager of social media for Ergobaby, a leading brand in babywearing and attachment parenting. She has been featured in USA Today, Essence, and MOTHER, among other outlets. Sellerz-Jackson lives in Pasadena, CA with her husband, Jon; their three boys, Jax, Jedi, and Jupiter; and their labradoodle, Chaka.
*Mariel Buqué, PhD, is a Columbia University–trained trauma-informed psychologist, professor, and sound bath meditation healer. She has appeared as an expert on Good Morning America and Today and in Allure, Self, Glamour, and Well + Good, among many other outlets, and has offered wellness talks to corporations such as Google, Capital One, and Meta. She is originally from the Dominican Republic and currently lives in New Jersey. Break the Cycle is her first book.
*Born and raised in foggy Northern California and now residing in Los Angeles CA with her spouse John, Arielle Estoria (R-E-L EH-STORY-UH) (she/her) is a Published and commissioned Poet, Author and Actor and Model. Her motto, “Words not for the ears but for the soul” stems from her dedication to remind anyone who encounters her work that words are meant to be felt and experienced not just heard. With a specific heart in empowering, encouraging and making space for audiences of women to feel free and at home in their own bodies.
Arielle is the Co-Author of two self-published collections of poetry: Vagabonds and Zealots (2014), and Write Bloody Spill Pretty (2017) which can both be found on Amazon.com and in 2016, released her EP of poetry and music titled Symphony of a Lioness. In March 2023, Estoria released her first solo book of poetry titled, THE UNFOLDING an invitation to come home to yourself, with Harper One available wherever books, e-books and audiobooks are available.
Three ticket options are available:
All tickets will include one entry and one book, depending on the title you choose.
Options include Brandi Sellerz-Jackson’s forthcoming title, On Thriving, Break The Cycle by Dr. Mariel Buqué and The Unfolding by Arielle Estoria.
ON THRIVING by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson
A renowned doula shares powerful lessons on healing and thriving through the murky seasons of life in this moving, intimate guide to deeper self-awareness and radical joy.
We’ve all been there: We take a pause, look at our lives, and desire more—more from our relationships, more from our wellness journeys, maybe simply more from ourselves. For some, it might be more fun, more peace, more exploration—but what does it take to get to the other side of living in survival mode? In On Thriving, Brandi Sellerz-Jackson helps us wade through what she calls the four great labors of our lives—labors that she’s had to overcome and that she has led many clients through.
Drawing from her experiences as a doula and intimate storytelling from her own life, Sellerz-Jackson guides us through the many phases of these great labors—labors that we can get stuck in, stunting our ability to thrive. Across age, gender, economic status, or background, we all move through the great labor of our relationships, our mental health, grief and loss, and the feeling of being othered. Sellerz-Jackson doesn’t shy away from the pitfalls of these labors but rather challenges us to actively remain present within them and ask ourselves: What do I need to thrive in the space I’m currently in? In On Thriving,you’ll come to recognize the survival tools you’ve picked up along the way and exchange them for thriving tools and “rich-uals.” You’ll commit to no longer making a home out of chaos and rediscovering sanctuary within yourself.
Comparing our thriving to that of plant life, Sellerz-Jackson simplifies the complicated—and oftentimes overwhelming—journey as we attempt to grow in an inhospitable environment. With insightful and vulnerable storytelling, she invites a deep, soul-stirring investigation of our past and present to gather all that we need to thrive right where we are, right now.
BREAK THE CYCLE by Dr. Mariel Buqué
The definitive, paradigm shifting guide to healing intergenerational trauma—weaving together scientific research with practical exercises and stories from the therapy room—from Dr. Mariel Buqué, Ph.D, a Columbia University-trained, trauma-informed, psychologist, professor, and practitioner of holistic healing.
When a physical wound is left unhealed, it continues to cause pain and can infect the whole body. When emotions are left unhealed, they similarly cause harm that spreads to other parts of our lives, hurting our family, friends, coworkers, and others. Eventually, this hurt can injure an entire community, metastasizing across years and generations. This is intergenerational trauma. This trauma is why some of us become estranged from our families, why some of us are people pleasers, and why some of us find ourselves in co-dependent relationships. This trauma can be rooted in the experiences of ancestors, who may have suffered due to their race or identity, and it can be collective, the result of a shared experience like systemic oppression, harmful engrained behaviors in a culture like the acceptance of physical discipline of children, or even a natural disaster like a pandemic. These wounds are complex, impacting our minds, bodies, and spirits. Healing requires a holistic approach that has so far been absent from the field of psychology. Until now.
From Dr. Mariel Buqué, a leading trauma psychologist, comes a groundbreaking guide to transforming intergenerational pain into intergenerational abundance. With BREAK THE CYCLE, she delivers the definitive guide to healing inherited trauma. Weaving together scientific research with practical exercises and stories from the therapy room, Dr. Buqué teaches readers how trauma is transmitted from one generation to the next and how they can break the cycle through tangible therapeutic practices, learning to pass down strength instead of pain to future generations.
THE UNFOLDING by Arielle Estoria
“A moving, fresh, unique poetry collection and a generous invitation into the mind of the poet. Both a galvanizing wake-up call and a tender lullaby.” — Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed
“What I love about Arielle’s writing is that she takes readers on this journey step by step, filled with wisdom and grace. This book will help anyone seeking to unfold into their bloom.” — Morgan Harper Nichols, author of All Along You Were Blooming and Peace is a Practice
In this beautiful collection of poems, essays, and meditations, Arielle Estoria tenderly reveals the places in her life where she has been broken open and mended back together in new ways. In doing so, she shows each of us how when we walk through our own process of “unfolding,” though it may be uncomfortable at times, there is light on the other side. Let these words guide your soul, and return home to the person you were always meant to be.
This ticketed event will take place at All Saints Church located at 132 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena.
Books that come with the ticket will be handed out at check-in and will be pre-signed so a book signing will NOT follow the conversation. Additional copies of all titles, will be available for purchase at the event.

Vroman's: John John Densmore, in conversation with Fred Armisen, discussing The Doors Unhinged
2023-11-02 19:00
In THE DOORS: UNHINGED, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore offers a powerful exploration of the “greed gene”–that part of the human psyche that propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles, friendships, and the well-being of society. This is the gripping account of the legal battle to control The Doors’ artistic destiny. In it, Densmore looks at the conflict between his bandmates and him as they fought over the right to use The Doors’ name, revealing the ways in which this struggle mirrored and reflected a much larger societal issue: that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.
In recent years, artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Stevie Nicks have sold their songs or recording rights for astronomical amounts of money–Bruce Springsteen did so to the tune of a reported $500+ million. Conversely, Patti Smith wrote in Just Kids: “We feared that the music which had given us sustenance was in danger of spiritual starvation. We feared it losing its sense of purpose, we feared it falling into fattened hands.”
The Doors continue to attract new generations of fans, with more than one hundred million albums sold worldwide and counting, and nearly twenty million followers to the band’s social media accounts. As such, Densmore occupies a rarified space in popular culture. He’s beloved by artists across the decades for his fierce, uncompromising dedication to art. His writing consistently earns accolades and has appeared in a range of publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone. As his friend and American novelist Tom Robbins recently advised him, “If you keep writing like this, I’ll have to get a drum set.” (Akashic Books)
This ticketed event will take place at All Saints Church located at 132 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena.
Tickets include one signed copy of The Doors Unhinged which will be handed out at check-in. Books will be pre-signed so a book signing will NOT follow the conversation.

Vroman's: Cassandra Clare, in conversation with Kiersten White, discussing Sword Catcher
2023-09-20 08:00 - 17:00
Two outcasts find themselves caught in a web of forbidden love, dangerous magic, and dark secrets that could change the world forever in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.
In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.
Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword Catcher–the body double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are as close as brothers, but Kel knows that his destiny is to die for Conor. No other future is possible.
Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community whose members still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls within the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend without access to forbidden knowledge.
After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces. As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war–and the world into chaos?
